6/09/2010

Episode IV: A New Dope

Submitted by Rachel:

For my birthday, a friend of mine, Greg, bought me tickets to see Star Wars in Concert. I knew that the tickets probably cost him a bit, so I graciously thanked him and even got kind of excited to go, despite not really knowing much about Star Wars.

About a week before the concert, Greg confessed that he had feelings for me. I didn’t feel the same toward him, and I made that very clear, but I agreed to call the concert a date, thinking that he might surprise me. Who knew? Maybe we would have some chemistry?

He picked me up for our date, and did not open my car door for me. I’m one of those archaic women who still actually appreciate chivalrous men, but this wasn’t a deal breaker for me at this point in the night. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Once inside his car, he offered me one of two cans of soda that he had packed with him. If I’m the only person of the opinion that it’s kind of kooky to bring canned soda for the 30-minute car ride of a first date, then so be it. I think it’s a little weird, but at that point, my mind was still open.

The rest of the car ride went smoothly, at least conversationally. The ride itself had me holding onto the door, uneasy with his driving. He seemed to believe that changing lanes required a maneuver similar to parallel parking, except at speeds upward of 60 miles per hour.

So he hadn’t gotten my car door and he wasn’t great at driving, but he had brought me a can of warm soda, which I believed was a sign of deep respect in underdeveloped countries where soda is sparse... maybe?

Dinner was the most enjoyable part of the evening, by far. Conversation picked up and the Chinese food was delicious. We talked about an array of things, and even had a few moments where sparks didn’t exactly fly, but got a little bit off the ground.

Then we got to the concert. We were late, but only by about ten minutes. What annoyed me wasn’t our lateness, but the fact that we climbed every single stair in the event center, all the way to the very top row. Turns out that the tickets I’d assumed cost him a pretty penny probably didn’t put him back very much. Still, I’m impressed by more than price tags, and I was willing to see the date through, so I made the best of it and smiled my way up to the oxygen-deprived heights.

We sat down.  I was tired from our trek, but I didn’t want to seem rude, so I tried to make conversation about the show.

He shushed me!

That’s right. He shushed me like a third-grade teacher for trying to (gasp!) communicate on a date.

At that point, I was kind of done. I didn’t say much else throughout the rest of the concert, or the ride back home.

The very next morning, he called me to ask how I felt the date had gone. I told him that I didn’t think we had much chemistry, and he accused me of leading him on.

57 comments:

  1. Third graders talk during concerts, adults don't. No wonder he shushed you! I think he dodged a bullet!

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  2. The original poster sounds like a bitch. Instead of those concert tickets, he should have bought you a black eye.

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  3. That's 'cause you led him on.

    Also: talking during an orchestral show? What the hell's the matter with you?

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  4. Lots of angry blokes out early today, huh?

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  5. I don't think they're angry. The truth can be ugly though.

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  6. You are repulsive.

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  7. OP should have never agreed to the date because it was never going to be a good one in her opinion. If this is a bad date to you, OP, then you're pretty lucky.

    Plus, coke tastes best out of the can. Not lukewarm, I'll grant OP that. But always from the can.

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  8. I think he dodged a very fussy bullet there.

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  9. this wasn't that bad of a date...it was a little awkward, definitely not worth a second date, but then again, not so bad that its worth blogging about.

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  10. Yeah, I think we'll be hard-pressed to find someone that doesn't think the OP is the douche in this story.

    Sorry lady, but you suck.

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  11. tough crowd!

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  12. Oh, what a fucking martyr you are, OP, putting up with all the annoyances of a nice guy taking you out for an evening. All you did in this story is complain about something he did or didn't do that wasn't good enough for you, and then try to paint yourself in a good light for oh-so-graciously not being an uppity cunt right to his face.

    OP, you, with your unrealistic expectations of what chivalry entails, are the embodiment of everything that is wrong with the dating scene in America. Do all the nice guys a favor and jump off an overpass during rush hour.

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  13. OP, what the hell is wrong with you?

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  14. I have a feeling Jared's title choice, "A New Dope", was aimed at the OP, not the guy in this date.

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  15. Talking during a concert is rude, selfish, and can get you thrown out. OP, you need to polish yourself up a little more. I feel sorry for the guy on this date.

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  16. This story was amazing!
    It took less than 4 paragraphs for me to hate you, OP.

    I can't believe he brought you a soda and didn't buy your entitled ass front row seating. The nerve of some people.

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  17. I completely agree with everyone above. Who the hell cares if a guy doesn't open a car door? And it was thoughtful of him to bring you a drink when he could have just grabbed one for himself.

    You suck.

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  18. What a princess. The bitchy statements and then the immediate qualification that she's still "open" was what made me want to smack her upside the head. She clearly didn't like him and shouldn't have gone out with him in the first place.

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  19. I was going to say the OP was not as open-minded as she claimed at the beginning, she obviously wasn't into the guy from the start, and thus she should have just saved everyone time and not gone. For girls, my experience is that she either likes him or doesn't in the first 5 seconds, and after that there is no point in either the guy or the girl trying to change the girl's mind. "Open-minded" is just wasting everyone's time/hopes.

    Then, I read the comments. Holy shit!

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  20. OP was such a bad date; "I'm not interested in you but we can go on a date so you can buy me things".
    The guy sounded perfectly nice, despite the driving and deserves much better than stuck up opinionated OP

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  21. Wow. I can't believe the name calling. The OP sounds to me like she's being very honest and up-front with her story and you guys are posting like she's the most evil girl in the world. What's wrong with chivalry? What's wrong with wanting the best date you could possibly have? What's wrong with wanting the best for yourself and not settling for less? It's obvious to me that she's intelligent enough to look out for the "little things" in a guy before she becomes too involved. Because it's those same things that end up breaking people apart in the long run. She's looking ahead to the future and not settling.

    I'm a guy...and as far as I'm concerned, I should be the one "selling" myself on a date - even if she doesn't like me "like that". Guys don't challenge themselves enough anymore. What happened to the pursuit? If you don't think she likes you like that, give her reasons to give you a chance. It's obvious that this guy didn't sell himself with warm canned sodas and a rude "shush" at the concert. If the guy had any shred of decency, he would have politely said something like, "Hey, the concert is starting, let's watch."

    Also, if you knuckleheads actually read her post, she was open-minded throughout the entire date up until the "shush". If I were on a date with a girl and she shushed me, I don't think I would have gone out with her anymore either. Personally, I would have been more put off that we were late, but that's just me. And if I drove, I guarantee we wouldn't be late - especially to a Star Wars show...heheh.

    Yes, there's more to a guy than his money, but it's obvious that the OP didn't care about how much money he had - she plainly stated that. To all the posters, do yourselves a favor and think before you blindly reply with nonsense and name calling from your mommy's basement. Thanks.

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  22. Guys guys guys, you're all hating the OP for completely the wrong reason! I hated her after the sentence containing the phrase "despite not really knowing much about Star Wars". I mean who doesn't know about Star Wars (Yeah, I'm talking about IV, V, VI....not that new shit).

    And seriously people, here I am on my soap box once again yelling to the masses....If you are at a movie/show, STFU or GTFO! I bet she talked through the whole scene where we find out if Han or Greedo shot first!

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  23. Joong's mother originally caught him trolling, but made him delete his original 'LOL BITCH DIE' post and dictated every letter of the one he submitted while clasping him by his sweaty, underdeveloped balls.

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  24. Wow, Joong. Thanks for the wake up call. You know, I'm pretty insecure, so I come here to feel better about myself by calling strangers idiots from behind my computer screen in my mom's basement. I think it's high time I scrape the Cheeto crumbs off my lap and swim through the cans of Mountain Dew and really take a look at myself in the mirror. When you called me a knucklehead, it really affected me, you know? Like, it was as if you see inside my soul. My chubby, dateless soul that is so bitter from the years of pain from the other girls calling me 'Fatty fat fat'. The tormenting cries and laughter when they all chant "you live in your mommy's basement, you live in your mommy's basement...". It haunts me. You know? I...I...I didn't think that this girl, Rachel has feelings too. And I was cruel. I'm sorry. I'll be nice from now o...

    I'm totally kidding. Rachel has no feelings.
    The rest of it you can shove up your ass for a rainy day.

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  25. Comments like The Architect's, Anon12:29's, and nomatophobia's make this site worth reading. Far better than any of the dates I've read in months.

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  26. Talk about high maintenance. Sounds like he was just being your average nice guy. For me, the talking during a concert would have been last straw. For someone who comes off as such a princess (I bet if you pointed out that you wanted doors opened, he'd have obliged without further comment- not all women like it and can be loud about it, right or not), she certainly comes off as lacking class.

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  27. I just checked teh comments to confirm what I was feeling: no one likes OP (except Joong, but he's a statistical anomaly).

    The thing about high maintenance people is that they're constantly disappointed. Ring a bell OP?

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  28. OP here. I'm not going to go off about being called names. I don't know you (or if I do, I wouldn't know, since you're all "Anonymous), and you don't know me either. I understand that your reactions are based on your limited perception of who I am, and that's ok.
    As far as talking during a concert, all I can say is now I know better. I assure you, I wasn't talking loudly...just quietly commenting on the show to my date. Still, I quite honestly did not know that this was so unacceptable. To all of you whom I have offended, I sincerely do apologize.

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  29. Wow, and rather than think "hmmm, all but one person thinks I'm the douche in my own story, maybe... it's... me", you write it down to our "limited perception of you". I don't think we could survive more perception of you.
    And seriously, who are you apologizing to? The commenters? Or to all the people who could hear you talking during movies, etc? Ugh, don't even answer these questions. You are too much.

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  30. Op, I don't think you should apologize. Thanks for sharing your story! I enjoyed reading it.

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  31. OP sounds jerky. God help the rebel with warm soda.

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  32. Han shot first.. until asswipe Lucas rewrote history and *!#@'d it all up.

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  33. Oh goody...JD is back posting comments...zipee. Now the section is SO much cooler and interesting...well, at least according to JD.

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  34. Joong - STFU and GTFO (Thank you again my beloved Architect for your wonderful comment. You make my cold wicked heart tingle). Just because someone states "I'm the smartest/funniest/sexiest person in the world," it does not make it so. And I personally am not in a basement, I'm in an office building spending your tax dollars on toilet paper. Get a clue.

    Princess Rachel - I think you need to hook up with Joong.

    You have this way of saying something when you really want to say the opposite and it's annoying. Example, "I'm not going to go off about being called names. I don't know you (or if I do, I wouldn't know, since you're all "Anonymous), and you don't know me either. I understand that your reactions are based on your limited perception of who I am, and that's ok." is you really saying stop calling me names you assholes.

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  35. I think the comment about the card door was a bit lame. I mean this isn't 1950s. I think that the issue about the cost was kind of stupid as well. He wanted to take you out, if you did not like him, you can say no.

    And what were you commenting on during the show? It's annoying when people constantly talk during the movie/concert/whatever show.
    As for shooshing you, it's better than saying STFU.

    Oh well, you two did not work out as a couple. Time to move on.

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  36. Gimme a c... gimme a u... gimme an n... gimme a t...

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  37. Joong you are a flacid wang.

    the OP's date remembered her birthday, bought her tickets to a show, picked her up, was thoughtful enough to bring her a drink for the trip, and had enough manners and confidence to shush her when SHE made a social faux pas.

    As far as I am concerned he did a good job selling himself - proved he was organised, thoughtful, chivalrous (in spite of the door) and had good manners.

    If the OP looks past all that because his driving left a bit to be desired and he didn't open a door, then I'd say our mate Greg dodged a massive, spoilt, petty dog-shaped bullet.

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  38. i agree, 7:52, people take this site way too seriously. get a life people!

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  39. 7:52, 8:51:

    you must be new here

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  40. @ 7:52, 8:51:
    I thought this was the comment section of a website on the internet?

    also I think the op is a bitch as-well

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  41. I'm seriously interested in a study showing the correlation between aggressive commenters and violent crime. Someone needs to get on that asap.
    In the meantime, OP, I hope you find a guy who can live up to your high standards.

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  42. I wish I had gone on that date instead of OP, it sounds awesome. Chivalry-wise: I appreciate it when anyone opens a door for me, but it's not gender-specific and I certainly don't go around expecting it, especially in cars when it's very silly to go all the way around the car for the purpose. It sort of implies you can't open your own car door, you fragile thing you. Maybe if I was wearing an expensive evening gown I might need a hand? Otherwise silly.

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  43. Why the heck did you want to talk DURING a concert? You should have waited until intermission or (if there wasn't intermission) afer the concert. I'd have shushed you too. If he didn't converse at those points I'd have some sympathy for you.

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  44. Just about everything I wanted to say about the OP has been said in the most negative way possible... and it's all true.

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  45. I hope the OP changes her attitude or she is going to end up alone at 50, living in a house full of neglected cats...

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  46. HEY JARED! 55 comments! Talking during a Star Wars concert really got 'em going. What's the highest number of comments on any story so far? What was the story?

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  47. @Rachel--OP said...

    "I don't know you (or if I do, I wouldn't know, since you're all "Anonymous)".. everyone's anonymous here, whether we comment as 'anonymous' or use names none of us knows each other. What I do know though is that OP is an unpleasant cuuuunt.

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  48. God love Gulliver

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  49. Rachel can't date Joong, because Joong is obviously Rachel!

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  50. Definitely, Hans. I can agree with Joong/Rachel/whoever they are about wanting more for themselves and not settling, but if you call a guy who takes you out to dinner and a concert and thinks of you ahead of time "settling" then you have unrealistically high expectations. The OP tries to makes it seem like she doesn't care about the money, but just her attitude about the "long trek" up all the stairs proves otherwise. What a bitch.

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  51. Ahahaha! 63 comments (now)! And Gulliver comes through for my personal win.

    Error - I don't know which date was the most troll-tastic off the top of my head, but I'm willing to bet it was the one where the guy dumped his cheeseburger juice into the vegetarian's salad, and everyone started talking about the science behind feeding vegetarians meat protein. That was pretty commentlicious, as I recall.

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  52. He probably had better tickets in the beginning and changed them when the OP told him she was not interested in anything serious. I feel sorry for the next guy who takes her out!

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  53. Gulliver--i'm in love with you because you are hilarious!!!! rachel, honey, sorry to tell you but you are so worried about finding everything wrong with this poor guy that you couldn't see all the things he did right. he brought you a soda (which i think was super sweet) and he paid for your dinner and tickets (which seems to never happen these days) so...if you wanna know what an actual bad date is like--i'll send ya a few of my exs

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  54. If he took you to a movie and tried to talk in a crowded theater with the movie playing, would that be acceptable? I'd think most third graders would realize they should be quiet at that point.

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  55. *Le sigh* I'm obviously very late to thread. Ok:

    Rachel: You're a whiny half-empty kind of twat.

    Joong: Stop trying to butter up to the OP and continue singing "I'm so ronery....vely ronery..." in your basement while wondering why girls "don't like nice guys like me who want them to have the very best! Boo!"

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  56. Joong - She knew she didn't like him she lead him on anyways and she was being a picky cunt.. He isn't a limo driver, why would he get out and open your doors, hate to say it but this is year 2011 (2012 in a couple weeks) 97% of guys dont open doors anymore.. Get over it.. and he was being nice during the ride and thoughtful and bought you soda and you complain about it? then your complaining about being in the way back and acting as if you've climbed mount everest and made him pay for dinner, etc knowing you didn't like him like that..

    Grow some balls and tell the guy next, instead of sticking it out and talking on a website behind there back.. You don't derserve nothing.

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